Thousands of donations continue to pour into the funds of the Texas House Democratic Party Who fled the state last week to stop Republicans Advance a strong election bill.
Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke’s Political Action Committee Powered By People raised more than $600,000 to keep Democratic members in Washington, DC, while they continue to veto the state legislature during this special session Quorum.
O’Rourke said at a press conference on Thursday: “We have indeed become a communication channel for all Texans and their fellow Americans who wish to express their support for these Texas state legislators.”
“I think there have been 17,861 donations so far, with an average donation of $36 per donation, so yes, we will continue to raise funds, and we will continue to send this money to the Texas Democrats for them Any use needed,” he said. “This is unconditional for us, because our support is unconditional.”
When Democrats left the State Capitol in Austin on July 12, some state Republicans, such as the governor. Greg Abbott, Accusing lawmakers of using taxpayer money to fund their flights to Washington and their stay on Capitol Hill.
However, the Democrats disputed these claims, claiming that they raised funds privately.
“[The chartered flights] It was not bought with taxpayer money. We have people who support us, such as Beto O’Rourke.Some of us are interested in seeing democracy actually prevail,” state Rep. Jasmine Crockett told CNN last week. “We got help, but it’s not taxpayer money. We won’t do that. We can’t even get it.”
Sergio Flores/Stringer
Legislators fled Texas to block a series of Republican-led bills, the most notable of which was an election bill that would add new identification requirements for mailed voting, ban some early voting options and enact New criminal penalties.
The legislature is also expected to vote on other measures during the special session, including a ban on transgender athletes from participating in school sports, further restrictions on abortion, and a ban on the teaching of critical racial theories in public schools.
At a press conference on Monday, Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives set their travel budget at $1.5 million. The funds will be used for transportation, accommodation and food for the rest of the special session. They said the organization is “going smoothly” to raise these resources.
O’Rourke said that although most of the donations have been sent to Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives, the funds have also been allocated to state senators who travel to Washington to support their colleagues.
“So far, we have remitted $600,000 to the House Democratic Caucus, and the amount we have remitted is much smaller. Senate Democrats, as you know, nine of the Democrats in the Texas Senate have also come to Washington, D.C.,” O’Rourke said. “I believe most of them, or many of them, have returned. Yes, but we have paid for their entire trip to Washington DC as well. “
Texas lawmakers thanked O’Rourke for using his platform to help them in their efforts.
“It means the whole world to us… those 17,000 individual donors-but [also] use [O’Rourke’s] Platform, because he may do other things, but he chose to use this platform to help us fight these voter suppression bills,” State Representative Armando Waller said on Thursday.
O’Rourke said he believes that the Texas Democrats will create change across the country through their strikes and lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
O’Rourke said: “I assure you that the fact that there are currently more than 50 House Democrats in Washington is a factor for discussion, negotiation, and consideration by those who now have the right to vote.”
